Sports briefs 11/22/03

Baseball

Kevin Appier is staying with the Kansas City Royals. The 35-year-old right-hander and the Royals agreed Friday to a one-year contract for the $300,000 minimum. Anaheim, which released Appier in July, is responsible for the remainder of his $12 million salary in 2004, the final season of a $42 million, four-year contract he agreed to with the New York Mets in December 2000.

He was 7-7 with a 5.63 ERA in 19 starts with Anaheim last season, then signed with the Royals on Aug. 6 and went 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in four starts and 19 innings.

Derek Jeter's injured left thumb will not need an operation. The New York Yankees' shortstop was examined Friday by team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon and hand specialist Dr. Mel Rosenwasser.

Football

Police found a steak knife stuck in a kitchen cabinet and marijuana while searching the home of Cleveland Browns running back William Green, whose fiancee has been accused of stabbing him in the back.

Green, currently suspended by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse program, was hospitalized Wednesday after being cut in his home.

Asia Gray, Green's girlfriend since high school and the mother of his two daughters, is charged with felonious assault and domestic violence. She pleaded innocent.

Golf

Tiger Woods and Charles Howell III beat Tim Clark and Retief Goosen 1-up, the seventh victory out of 10 matches Friday for the Americans in the Presidents Cup.

The United States took a 9 1/2-6 1/2 lead into the six best-ball matches Saturday on the Links Course at Fancourt

England's Laura Davies shot a 3-under 69 and Meg Mallon had a 71 to share the second-round lead in the LPGA Tour's season-ending ADT Championship.

Hockey

Calgary Flames forward Krzysztof Oliwa was suspended for two games Friday, a day after crosschecking Montreal's Darren Langdon in the face. Oliwa was considered a repeat offender by the NHL and will forfeit $21,341.46 in salary.

Soccer

Kansas City Wizards midfielder Preki Radosavljevic, 40, was selected as Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player on Friday, becoming the first player to win the award twice.

Radosavljevic led the league in scoring with 12 goals and 17 assists.